Readers sound off on Aeros relocation

After Thursday’s news of an imminent announcement that the Aeros will be relocated to Des Moines, Iowa Chron.com readers voiced their displeasure. Below are the best comments from the original story :

The important thing to take away from this is that Houston lost another sports team, just so we can occasionally have an extra Justin Bieber or Britney Spears concert. Hope it was worth it, Les. –cosmic_charlie

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Say goodbye to the Aeros. (Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle)

This was completely political on Les Alexander’s part. He’s no better than Bud Adams. The Toyota Center has already been getting big name concerts, and they will not get that many more, even without the Aeros. Aeros and Rockets games combined only take up about 80 nights during the regular season (about 90 including playoffs if BOTH teams make it) – Out of 365 days of the year. Most arenas in major cities have both basketball and hockey (e.g. The Spurs share an arena with the Rampage).-aerohead

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Les Alexander, you’ll regret this! -heightskid

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While I hate to hear that the Aeros are leaving (thanks to a greedy Rockets owner that won’t see one cent of my money), their playing in the Toyota Center was a failed model from the start.

In order to keep from losing a ton of money, Aeros tickets continued to increase in price every year, to the point that it was no longer a value to watch minor league hockey. When I look at the cost for my wife and I to attend one game, sit in the corner seats, and pay for parking and two sodas, I’ve already payed for a season of the NHL Center Ice package on cable. I’d certainly rather watch a game like the Bruins vs. Sabres last night in the comfort of home, than watching the Aeros level of play in person.

It’s a shame, because I know a lot of people really enjoyed going to games. To bring an end to this because of Alexander’s greed is horrible. I know that he will have to answer to a higher power in life (and it won’t be a good answer for him).

Unfortunately, as far as the NHL coming to Houston IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN. First, as long as Alexander has to own the team, the NHL will NEVER let that happen. They saw him as a joke of an owner at least three times in the past, and would never make the mistake of letting him own (and destroy) an NHL franchise. In history, however, Houston was never a thought when it came to the NHL. When the WHA folded, Houston was NEVER a consideration. It wasn’t a consideration when the Whalers moved from Hartford, the Nordiques moved to Denver, the original Jets moved to Phoenix, the Flames moved to Calgary, etc. Every time the NHL expanded, Houston was not even considered by the NHL. Instead, the league went to places like San Jose, Nashville, Columbus, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Miami. There is absolutely no interest for having another NHL team in the South or Sun Belt anytime soon. –steve0510

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Twistedmister: As God is my witness, I will NEVER attend another event in the Toyota Center.
Farewell Aeros! Thanks for 19 years for great times.

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It’s clear that the comments on this site are from the 14 die-hard Aeros fans and/or part of the class warfare party that exists today. Perhaps blame should go to the Minnesota Wild for not paying market value for renting a major league facility in the 4th largest city? Let’s not pretend that this team was capturing the city’s imagination. Look, I’m sorry to see them go. But for people to say they are not affecting Toyota Center’s concert schedule is just plain ignorant and dishonest.

The summer months are huge months for concert circuits. But some people hate letting facts get in the way of their demented views.

One more note – if you were in charge of booking events at TC, you’d know your in charge of generating revenue. Some of you would be fired within a week with your mentality. –cdouglasc

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sorry to the see the Aeros go, but Les Alexander has his hands all over this one…he is so undecided..he cant settle on a coach…he cant keep a winning team on the floor, and this will be the third franchise he has run out of here after the arena football team he owned(the thunderbears) and then the Houston comets, who he sold to the hilton furniture guy, but he was going to dump them back to the wnba- v2the4

Well Les, if the Aeros get into the play-offs and they play in the T.C. i will attend, however when they leave………. it will be the LAST TIME I EVER SET FOOT IN THERE AGAIN.

have a nice day (not)- googietx

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I hope someone tracks how many more concerts we get at TC. I expect this to be a loss not only for the fans of Hockey but also for those who worked the games, and the great AEROS employees. Some may move with the team, but many will stay and some organizations will be lucky to have them. Except Les. He doesn’t deserve them. I hope the AEROS can make a strong playoff showing. It will be my last trips to the Toyota Center.

For those non-fans. You don’t know what you missed. Fast paced, exciting and affordable entertainment and one of the best game day experiences in Houston. First class all the way. In what world does removing this from a community create anything but a loss?

Let’s pray that next time the public pays to build a facility that it is not controlled by one individual and their special interests, but rather the community who funded the project.-lonestarsound

The Question is “Name three things that should still be in Houston?” -BobbyR

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I’ll probably get flamed for this …but here goes. Been a Rockets supporter for about 35 years. Enjoyed immensely their title runs of the 90′s (a team built by the previous owners, btw) & their general commitment to being competitive over their history (their trend for folding down the stretch in recent years notwithstanding). But the recent behavior of the current ownership has just about run me off. Their role, along with the Astros, in the ridiculous Comcast saga is undeniable. It appears to me that they were manipulating the fans from the beginning & counting on them as a negotiating piece in their battle with the non-Comcast carriers. The lying ads CSN has been running are just insulting. Now they are obviously running the Aeros out. I was a fan of the original Aeros & went to their games long before ever attending a Rockets game. I know, not the same Aeros. But there is a historical & spiritual connection there. My point in this rant is that I get the impression that Les could give a damn about the fans. He is counting on our loyalty to the team. Well, Les …sorry. I’m out. I’ve lived all season without the Rockets & can easily continue. Enjoy your friggin wine.- n2pux

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Texansnfl-So the Aeros leave Houston because they could not find another sports arena, yet Bob McNair wants to demolish the Astrodome for more parking spaces???
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Let’s see if if get this. We had to build a stadium for Les Alexander to use RENT FREE and he gets to keep all of the money from the concerts that booked there. The reason the taxpayers needed to build the stadium is because sports is good for the city. Now, Les gets to kick our hockey team. They could go back to Compaq except that Les and Mayor Brown agreed that we could not use that as a stadium. Color me disgusted with professional sports. I will never go to a Rockets game EVER. I hope my cable provider hangs tough and doesn’t cave in to the Rockets/Astros money grab.- HorseyDorsey

Les Alexander, bud Adams, rich off the back of working tax payers, catalyzed by a complicite and good old boy sports association. They can all go to heck.-Broomfiddler
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As long as Lesli is in control, Gary Bettman will not allow Houston to have an NHL team. Both men are hated by the hockey community as greedy and detrimental to the sport.
As an avid Aeros supporter, I will now buy season packages from San Antonio and Cedar Park so I can watch my Aeros play when they return. That is money being taken out of the Houston economy. Also, I don’t really care what concerts Leslie thinks he can bring here…we will not attend.
As for my Aeros – we love you, we always will. Thank you for giving my family a wonderful experience over the years. #SaveTheAeros #jakehockey-AeroLynne
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This breaks my heart. I’ve been a hockey fan for five years. Aeros games have been a staple in my family. While I understand its a “business” decision, it still stings. I feel like the Aeros was a cheap family outing that everyone of all ages could enjoy. They were a positive influence on the community. I know most of the fans feel like greed is what pushed the Aeros out.- asiancourtney